Page 2 of The Gilded Heiress

Boston

Leo

It was true that a fool and his money are soon parted—most often because of someone like me.

Money was in the forefront of my mind all day, every day. Specifically, who had it and how could I get my hands on it?

This afternoon was no different. I stood at the edge of a promising gathering in Post Office Square, my eyes sizing up the

crowd. At least one fool with deep pockets lurked in every crowd. I merely had to lure him over.

“Find the red queen!” I called out to no one and everyone. “It’s easy, folks! Three cards and all you have to do to win is

to keep your eye on the pretty lady.” Except it was impossible to win. Thanks to my sleight of hand abilities and some clever

misdirection, the mark would never find the red queen. No one said I played fair.

Cards weren’t my preferred game—it was a lot of work in the hot sun for three or five bucks—but my other plans came up short

this month. I needed money, fast. My mother and five sisters depended on me to keep the family afloat.

After twenty minutes I was forced to admit defeat. No one was biting. The crowd’s attention was locked onto a lady singing

in the square instead. I decided to find another location. After all, the day was still young.

As I packed up my case, I heard her voice lingering in the afternoon air. She was good. Very good, actually. Each note was delivered perfectly in a pleasing husky rasp. Who was this woman? Why was she singing here instead of on a stage?

I had to find out.

I picked my way through the crush, lifting a pocket watch and a billfold along the way, until I reached the front. It was

there that I got my first peek at her. I let out a low whistle. She was a looker, with blond hair piled under a smart straw

hat and green eyes that sparkled in the afternoon sun. Her simple shirtwaist and skirt were the same variety worn by just

about every woman in town, though I could tell her clothing wasn’t new.

It was clear she didn’t have much stage presence. She stared far off into the distance, a remote statue, rather than working

the crowd. Was she a struggling actor? An unemployed singer?

I elbowed the gent next to me. “Any idea who she is?”

The man shook his head. “Nah, but I’ve seen her out here fairly regular for the last few weeks.”

Captivated, I continued to stand there, unable to look away as one song blended into the next. She really was something, combining

both talent and beauty. Finally, she finished and everyone applauded. People moved forward to toss coins into her collection

jar.

“Thank you. I appreciate your support,” she said to the crowd, her voice threaded with the sounds of the Boston streets. She

gestured to the jar. “I’m just beginning my career, but someday I’m going to be bigger than Lillian Russell and Enrico Caruso

combined!”

I nearly rolled my eyes. I admired the girl’s ambition—I had a bit of it myself—but if she wanted to be a famous singer, street

corners were a waste of time. She had to meet the right people at the right places, get auditions with the best theater producers.

I had no experience in that business, but even I knew how it was done.

Just then, someone paid her a compliment and she smiled.

I paused, mesmerized. From the curve of her jaw to her straight aristocratic nose, not to mention that beautiful mouth.

.. There was something more, something unique about her.

With her proud bearing and delicate features, she could’ve been at home in any Beacon Street drawing room.

Any Fifth Avenue drawing room, for that matter.

“Hey! You!”

That voice... My head snapped over and I saw a familiar patrolman headed in my direction. Shit! It was O’Toole.

In a blink, I took off in the opposite direction, weaving between the bodies in the square as best I could while carrying

my large case. I didn’t need to check to know that O’Toole was following. I could hear him shoving people out of the way and

yelling for everyone to move.

I was no stranger to the Boston Police Department. They didn’t take kindly to a man trying to earn a dishonest living on the

street, unfortunately. Most of the officers left me alone, but O’Toole wasn’t one of them—which might’ve had something to

do with how I’d conned his brother last year with a fake stock racket.

I ran faster, determined to lose him in the streets. “Look out!” I called to a lady standing in my way. She stepped aside,

but it slowed me down. The crowd on the walk was too thick here, so I edged into the street. It was more visible, but I could

run faster. I hurried toward the alleys, where I knew I could hide.

“Stop, Hardy! You’re only making it worse on yourself!”

The soles of my worn leather shoes slapped on the cobblestones as I kept going, ignoring O’Toole. I knew these streets better

than almost anyone else, not to mention I had more friends in this town than the coppers. It was time to put that knowledge

to use.

I ducked between some buildings and found a familiar door, which I shoved open. Though the interior was dark, I could hear voices inside. I let the door close behind me and hurried toward the sound.

A cloud of blue silk and brown hair moved toward me the instant I reached the front hall.

“Leo! My darling!” Rebecca owned this establishment and oversaw the girls who worked here. “It has been ages.”

“Hello, Becca.” I took her elbow and began leading her deeper into the well-appointed salon. A handful of girls were gathered

around, chatting and entertaining customers. “Ladies.” I tipped my hat, then said quietly to Rebecca, “I need to hide out

for a few minutes.”

“Are you in trouble, darling?”

“Aren’t I always?” I gave her my most charming smile.

She shook her head at me, though her eyes were sparkling. “Let’s get rid of this, then.” She took my case and hid it behind

the lining of the tall windows. “Now, come with me. Sadie, Frannie, you come along as well.”

As the four of us started up the main staircase, a knock boomed on the front door. Rebecca winked at me. “Girls, show Mr.

Hardy up to a room. It needs to look believable. I’ll handle the front door.”

The girls took my elbows and we raced to an empty room. The three of us undressed me as quick as a wink, my clothes tossed

casually on a chair, then I fell down on the bed. The girls crawled on top of me, sandwiching me between the two of them.

“You haven’t been to see us in a while,” Sadie said with a pout as she unlaced the front of her gown.

Frannie was already kissing her way down my chest. “Yeah, Leo. What gives?”

“Now, girls,” I said, closing my eyes as a bolt of lust rushed through my veins. “It’s nothing personal. Just a temporary

fiscal deficit.”

Sadie’s bare breasts pressed against my side as her mouth met mine. The kiss deepened as our tongues intertwined—and I lost my train of thought when Frannie reached her target. Wet heat surrounded my semihard cock, and I groaned into Sadie’s mouth.

“I think he likes it, Frannie,” Sadie pulled back to say.

“Hell yes, he does.” I yanked Sadie back for another kiss while Frannie worked magic between my legs. Her head bobbed under

the coverlet as she gave my cock long pulls of her sweet lips. I palmed Sadie’s breast and rolled her nipple between my fingers.

“I know he’s up here!” a booming voice echoed in the hall. O’Toole.

I didn’t stop what I was doing and neither did the girls.

“Officer, really. This is an egregious infringement upon my rights.” Rebecca sounded calm and confident. “I haven’t any idea

for whom you are searching, but why don’t we return to the sitting area and you may tell me all about it?”

“I ain’t got time for that, madam,” O’Toole snapped. “A man ran in here. Where did he go? Hidin’ up in one of these rooms,

is he?”

Rebecca chuckled. “There isn’t a man hiding anywhere in here—unless you count one hiding from his wife!”

“Balderdash,” O’Toole said. “I saw him enter with my own eyes. Where is he?”

Somewhere nearby a door opened, followed by shouts. “Officer!” Rebecca said sharply. “You may not scare my customers.”

When another series of shouts followed, Sadie rose up and straddled my head. She lifted her skirts and I understood immediately.

“Bless you, sweetheart,” I said before grabbing her hips.

Sadie dropped the layers of cloth, covering my head, and lowered her pussy right onto my face. I inhaled her tangy scent and

let her juices coat my tongue as I licked her slick flesh. Goddamn, that was nice.

The door opened, but I barely heard it. I was too invested in what I was doing and the way Frannie was tasting my cock like a delicious treat. All three of us were moaning and grunting, the room filled with the scent of sex. I could already feel an orgasm building in my balls.

“Dear god!” I heard O’Toole exclaim as he took in our debauched scene.

“I tried to warn you,” Rebecca said. “As you can see, all my customers have been here for quite some time. Now, let’s leave

them to their vices, shall we?”

“But, but... I didn’t think such a thing was possible,” O’Toole was saying as the door closed.

“We must educate you, then.” Rebecca’s fading voice was husky and alluring, the perfect businesswoman. “I would love to offer

you a whiskey on the house and explain these things. We do adore our local patrolmen.”

“I’m married,” O’Toole said, as if this were pertinent information. “Wouldn’t be proper for me to stay.”

“Oh, honey,” Rebecca said from far away. “Almost everyone here is married.”

Twenty minutes later O’Toole went upstairs with one of the girls. When the coast was clear I kissed Sadie and Frannie goodbye,

gave Rebecca a few bills to cover their services, then slipped into the alley. I found myself grinning like a madman the whole

way home.

Christ, I fucking loved this city.

Chaos greeted me the moment I stepped inside the small house on Tremont Street.

This wasn’t unusual. The Hardy household was a lively and loud one on the best of days. I have five sisters and they were